Today we’d like to introduce you to Rene Davis.
Hi Rene, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When my wife, Mayra, and I started RMD Photo Booths in 2018, we literally built it from the ground up. Our very first booth was a DJ tripod, a DIY wooden box, a webcam, and a handful of Amazon props. We didn’t have investors or a big budget. We were just two people willing to work hard and figure it out.
In 2019, before everything changed, we were still living paycheck to paycheck. I wanted to attend PBX in Las Vegas because I knew education and networking would be worth more than anything I could buy. We couldn’t afford a hotel, so I bought a one way ticket the same day. I landed around 3:00 PM, waited in the lobby until the expo floor opened at 5:00 PM, spent a few hours soaking up everything I could, and caught an 11:00 PM flight home that night. It wasn’t about shopping for equipment. It was about learning from people who shared the same passion and seeing what was possible.
In early 2020, I was finally able to save enough money to attend PBX for the full three days. I left feeling like the future was wide open. I was full of ideas and couldn’t wait for what was going to be our biggest year yet.
Then, just a few weeks later, the world shut down.
Like so many event businesses, we suddenly had no events. There were moments when it felt like giving up would be the easier choice, but we kept going. Our clients were incredible. Many of our quinceañeras simply became Sweet 16 celebrations a year later, and because of their patience and loyalty, we were able to survive one of the toughest times our industry has ever faced.
By 2024, we were growing again. We expanded into Austin, hired our first part-time team member to help with designs, and completed around 250 events that year.
Then came 2025, which was a huge milestone for us. We moved into our first warehouse, grew to two full-time employees and more than 13 part-time event staff, completed over 500 events, and began working with national brands like ULTA Beauty, Estée Lauder, Miller Lite, and many others.
Now in 2026, we’re just getting started. In the first six months alone, we’ve traveled to 10 different states, completed more than 350 events, and continue to grow faster than we ever imagined.
Looking back, what I’m most proud of isn’t just the numbers. It’s that every stage of this journey came from taking chances, investing in learning, staying resilient through difficult times, and building a business alongside my wife from literally a homemade photo booth into one of the largest photo booth companies in Texas. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. If it had been a smooth road, we’d probably be bored.
We started with a homemade photo booth, survived a global shutdown just as things were taking off, and learned plenty of lessons the hard way. There were a lot of late nights, a few “what are we doing?” moments, and more coffee than I’d like to admit.
But every challenge taught us something, and honestly, I think those tough moments are the reason we’re where we are today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At RMD Photo Booths, we create interactive experiences that people remember long after the event is over. We’re known in San Antonio for bringing fun, high end entertainment to weddings, corporate events, and celebrations through unique photo booth experiences.
From South Texas’ first roaming robot photo booth to AI-powered experiences, live digital caricatures, and more than 26 different photo booth concepts, we’re always looking for ways to give our clients something they’ve never seen before.
What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built a reputation for quality, creativity, and customer service. We don’t just drop off a photo booth. We create an experience. That’s what has helped us grow from a homemade booth in 2018 to serving hundreds of events each year for both local clients and national brands.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be patient.
It’s easy to compare yourself to others or want everything to happen overnight, but real growth takes time. Every challenge, setback, and small win has taught me something that helped us get to the next level. Looking back, I’m grateful things didn’t happen all at once because we wouldn’t have been ready for them.
Trust the process, keep learning, and stay consistent. The results will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rmdphotobooths.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmdphotobooths
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RMDPhotobooths
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rmd-photo-booths
